Two and a half years ago I laced up for my first official run.

I had grown up playing sports but this marked the first time I had left my house with the sole, literally, intention of running.

Sporadically throughout the summer I ran but when the temperatures dropped, so did my running frequency. I wasn’t properly prepared to tackle the conditions, and I didn’t know where to start seeking the right answers.

Fast forward to Winter 2015-16. With a full year of running under my belt winter running became my next challenge. As I geared up to tackle whatever nature was bringing I shared my winter runs, not as symbols of bravery, but rather as words of encouragement to others to follow in my footsteps.

Questions poured in. Often the same questions, by text, in person and through comments on social channels, “How do I dress to run outdoors in the cold?”

I spent hours going back and forth giving one on one advice explaining the nuances of different pieces, tips and techniques for layering and more. I wanted to send people a link to answer all their questions, but the internet didn’t have one so I set out to make my own.

With the help of our Run Club members, we tested over 250 pieces and bring you our first ever WRG Buyer’s Guide to Winter Running.

Fifteen brands and a dozen testers bring you a comprehensive review of what you’ll need to not only survive but thrive running outdoors this winter.

I hope that you find some advice in this issue helpful, as always let us know how we can continue to improve on our Facebook page or via Twitter @wrgmag.

Cheers,

Leslie